Fort Collins – Ted Kawulok, patriarch of a two-tight end Mountain West Conference formation, will dress up for the holiday season Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium.
When San Diego State is on offense, he’ll wear a red Aztecs cap to honor his son Matt, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound redshirt freshman tight end. When Colorado State’s offense takes the field, Kawulok will change to his green hat for oldest son Chris, the Rams’ 6-3, 251-pound sophomore tight end.
Kim Kawulok is thinking of sewing together two old jerseys.
“I think it’s fitting for the time of the year,” the CSU tight end said of his parents’ red-and- green attire.
‘Tis not been a season to be jolly for either team. Struggling with an epidemic of injuries and learning a new system with a first-year staff, San Diego State is 2-9, 2-5 in the Mountain West. CSU (4-7, 1-6) turned a promising 4-1 start into a six-game losing streak disaster.
“It’s for bragging rights around the house,” Chris said. “This week we’re not brothers until the game is over.”
Both played at Monarch, where their father is an assistant coach.
Matt, who rose from fourth on the Aztecs’ depth chart in spring to start six games, is guaranteed more catches than his older brother. Although listed as a tight end, Chris Kawulok hasn’t caught a pass this season because a shoulder injury prevents him from raising his arm. He’s more of a third offensive tackle who sometimes goes in motion.
Without a bowl game, he’ll get a head start on rehab with surgery next week.
“I’d way much more rather be in a bowl game than be in a sling for Christmas,” he said.
Surgery will interfere with another family tradition. Chris and Matt won’t be able to wrestle to determine who is better.
“It’s the subject of much debate around the house,” the CSU tight end said. “We usually have a wrestling match but this Christmas he might have the edge, because I can’t do much in a sling.”
CSU coach Sonny Lubick singled out Kawulok this week for his toughness playing with the injury.
“It’s sure tough on the parents,” San Diego State coach Chuck Long said. “Usually the mom goes one way and the dad the other.”
Kim Kawulok is just happy that both sons play offense and won’t line up against each other.
“If they did, I’d tell them not to hurt each other,” she said. “I was told by Matt they are not brothers this week.”
At least the parents get to go to the same stadium to see their sons. When San Diego State played at Wyoming on Nov. 4, Kim left in the third quarter to drive to Fort Collins for the BYU-CSU game. Both sons lost that day.
“Physically and mentally it’s been exhausting,” she said. “Both teams are doing so horribly. I just encourage the boys to think ahead. Even though they won’t be bowl-eligible, they want to go out with pride.”
It would seem this game would also be a chance for either side to win the heart and mind of recruiting prospect, Mike Kawulok, yet another tight end-linebacker at Monarch. He said he has heard from CSU, San Diego State and Colorado but has no offers yet.
“(My brothers) want me to make my own decision and not tell me where I should go,” Mike said. “It’s nice it doesn’t put any more pressure on me.”
Mike won’t give any hints with his wardrobe at Saturday’s game, figuring he’ll just wear his black-and-gold Monarch jacket, the secondary colors for San Diego State and CSU.
Meanwhile, the next Kawulok on the recruiting horizon is eighth-grader Joe, who mom says is already bigger than his brothers.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
